RGB Curves can be an intimidating photo editing tool that’s difficult to wrap your mind around, but they’re powerful and worth learning. Photographer Conner Turmon made this helpful 8.5-minute video that explains how tone curves work and how you can use them to create professional-looking photos.

The tool is available in both Photoshop and Lightroom (and most serious photo editing apps), so this tutorial is relevant regardless of which program you’re using.